Spinners leave New Zealand tottering at 148/4 lunch (Lunch report)

NEW DELHI - Indian spinners struck twice to reduce New Zealand to 148 for four at lunch on the third day of the first cricket Test here Saturday.

Resuming at 69 for two, the overnight New Zealand pair of Brendon McCullum (65) and Ross Taylor (56) batted with purpose in the morning and runs came lucidly during their 104-run partnership for the third wicket. However, Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha removed the two set batsmen in quick succession to press home the advantage.

Jesse Ryder, playing his first Test in 14 months, and debutant Kane Williamson were batting at 6 and 5 at the luncheon break with Black Caps still trailing by 339 runs.

McCullum and Taylor were cautious to begin in the morning. The two posed a stubborn resistance to whatever was thrown to them and looked to give their side the stability they have been lacking of late.

McCullum soon cut loose and produced some delectable strokes despite the turn in the wicket. His 50 came off 94 balls with nine fours. Taylor followed suit and suddenly the runs flowed thick and fast. Taylor brought up his 50 off 112 balls with six boundaries.

It was then Taylor flicked a Harbhajan delivery to the mid-wicket region to V.V.S. Laxman and departed with hand on his head. His knock came off 124 balls and included six fours.

A bigger set-back followed when McCullum failing to judge a Ojha delivery was stumped by Indian skipper and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, leaving New Zealand tottering at 137 for 4.

McCullum’s innings came in 122 deliveries and included 11 fours.

The visitors had lost the wickets of opener Tim McIntosh (0) and Bradley-John Watling (6) early in their innings on the second day.